Bearing sections for the covering with marble plates, panels and the like of walls both uninterrupted and interrupted by doors, windows and the like

ABSTRACT

Bearing sections consisting of vertical sections, horizontal sections used when the building walls are not interrupted by frames, horizontal sections used when the building walls are interrupted by frames, and connecting sections. The bearing sections are of particular shapes and have teeth or appendices which allows the sections to be connected together as well as the building walls to be covered by, for example, marble plates in a dry manner.

United States Patent Varlonga BEARING SECTIONS FOR THE COVERING WITHMARBLE PLATES, PANELS AND THE LIKE OF WALLS BOTH UNINTERRUPTED ANDINTERRUPTED BY DOORS, WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Inventor: Giovanni Varlonga,Via B Verro n.

90, Milano, Italy Filed: Aug. 6, 1969 Appl. No.: 847,953

U.S. Cl. 521/213, 52/480, 52/487,

1111. 4:1. .;.E06b 1/18 Field oi Search ..s 2/211, 213, 479,480,481,52/487, 488, 496, 497, 492, 509

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1935 Duffy ..,."52/49 6X [15.13,705,002 1451 Dee.5,i972

2,005,427 6/1935 Lenke ..52/488 X 2,032,226 2/1936 Ro'eder ..52/4882,042,290 5/1936 Barrett 452/488 3,203,151 8/1965 Bransford, Jr ..52/2053,208,564 9/1965 Sitterly ..52/2l1 X 3,266,209 8/1966 Zibell ..5 2/487 XPrimary Examiner-Alfred C. Perham AttorneyCraig, Antonelli & Hill [5 7]ABSTRACT Bearing sections consisting of vertical sections, horizontalsections used when the building walls are not. interrupted by frames,horizontal sections used when the building walls are interrupted byframes, and connecting sections. The bearing sectionsare of particularshapes and have teeth or appendices which allows the sections to beconnected together as well as the building walls to be covered by, forexample, marble plates in a dry manner.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED MB 5 3,705,002

' INVENTOR GIOVANNI VARLONGA ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHEB 51912 SHEET 2 BF 3INVENTOR GIOVANNI VARLONGA SHEET 3 BF 3 PATENTEDnEr: 5 I972 BEARINGSECTIONS FOR THE COVERING WITH MARBLE PLATES, PANELS AND THE LIKE OFWALLS BOTH UNINTERRUPTED AND INTERRUPTED BY DOORS, WINDOWS AND THE LIKEThe present invention relates to hearing sections, and morespecifically, to hearing sections having a particular shape by means ofwhich it is possible to effect an easy and quick dry covering ofbuilding walls with marble plates, panels and the like.

The present invention anticipates the use of both vertical bearingsections and horizontal bearing sections as well as connecting sectionswhich are provided with suitable appendices or projecting portions andindentations, thus allowing the dry covering or assembly not only ofuninterrupted or continuous walls but also, mainly, or discontinuouswalls, that is, walls interrupted by frames such as-doors, windows andthe like. In accordance with the present invention, the vertical bearingsections, which are fixed by threaded connecting means such as screws toanchoring square'plates protruding from the slabs of the walls to becovered so as to form a series of vertical and parallel uprights, haveessentially U-shaped heads. By means of hook-shaped appendices andbolts, suitably-shaped metal blocks are engaged and dry assembled orfastened to the U-shaped heads of the vertical bearing sections throughthe metal blocks. In turn, the horizontal bearing sections are locked tothe metal blocks. The vertical bearing sections are further providedwith appendices and indentations for an easy dry fastening or assemblingof the connecting sections to which the frames are tightly applied. Theconnecting sections, according to the present invention, have suitableappendices or limbs and indentations in order to engage thecorresponding indentations and appendices of the vertical bearing inadry manner. Further, the present invention anticipates that theconnecting sections will be provided with packings for the sealings ofthe frames and for-the resilient seal which compensates vfor theconnection with the covering panels.

The horizontal bearing sections, which are horizontally bolted throughthe metal blocks to the vertical bearing sections, form, together withthe vertical bearing sections, a grating or grid with rectangular mesheshaving mutually spaced distances which are proportional to the heightdimensions of the covering panels. The horizontal bearing sections alsohave at the end of the sections thereof two shoulder wings for twoadjacent covering panels and a T-shaped wing, projecting outwardly fromthe core or body portion of the sections, the two wings of which enterin a dry manner into corresponding grooves made respectively along thelower and upper sides of the two adjacent covering panels which are thussafely supported.

Also in accordance with the present invention, two different types ofhorizontal bearing sections are used, one type being used where thereare no frames and the second type being used where, on the other hand,frames are present in the wall structure. The features of the horizontalbearing sections of the second type are not essentially different fromthe above-mentioned features of the first type. However, in the secondtype of bearing sections, the projecting wing has a t-shape without alower shoulder wing, instead of having a T- shape. In addition, an Lshaped wing is provided on the horizontal bearing section opposite tothe lower shaped projecting wing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and further features,'advantagesand objectswill become more apparent from the following description whentaken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, forpurposes of .illustration only, an embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention, and wherein:

FIG. I is a partial perspective view of a covering with panels of a wallhaving a door, by. utilizing bearing sections in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the vertical bearing section, according tothe present invention, and the fastening thereof to the square plate andalso the important locking thereto of the horizontal bearing sectionthrough a metal block;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the horizontal bearing 7 section employed,in accordance'with the present invention, where there are no frames, andshows the manner in which the covering panels are anchored thereto; 7

FIG. 4 is, in a manner similar to FIG. 3, a sectional view of thehorizontal bearing section, in accordance with the present invention,which is used'in the situations where there are no frames, that is,where there are continuous or uninterrupted walls; and

FIG. 5 is a general sectional view of the connecting section, accordingto the present invention, and shows the manner in which the connectingsection is fastened to the vertical bearing section, the manner in whichthe connecting section is connected to the covering panel, and themanner in which the door frame is applied tightly thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With reference now to the drawingsand in particular to FIG. 1, there is illustrated the vertical bearingsections 1, the horizontalbearing sections 2 of the type used wherethere are no frames, the horizontal bearing sections 3 of the type usedwhere there are frames, the connecting sections 4 for the tightintroduction and fitting of the frame 5 of the door 5 and the coveringpanels 7 of the wall.

The vertical bearing sections 1 are applied in a suitable manner bothvertically and mutually parallel with respect to each other along thewall to be covered. The vertical bearing sections 1 have fork-shapedback ends 8, as seen in FIG. 2, wherein screws 9 are introduced so thatthe sections 1 are dry fixed or assembled to the protruding anchoringsquare plate 10 of the wall slabs. At the front portion or side, thesections 1 have U- shaped heads 11, with two appendices or limbs 12being located on the opposite side of the U-shaped heads, having anapproximately T-shaped cross-section defining two teeth 13 and two hooks14. The two teeth 13 together with the hook-shaped appendices 15provided along the stem of the sections I, serve for the fastening ofthe connecting sections a to the vertical bearing sections 1. The twohooks M serve, on the other hand, to engage the metal blocks 16 insidethe heads 11. For this purpose, suitable hook-shaped appendices orportions 17 are provided on the sides of the metal blocks 16.

The metal blocks 16, which serve to dry connect the horizontal bearingsections 2 to the vertical sections 1, may be fastened in any positionalong the heads of the vertical sections 1 by connecting means such as,for example, four bolts 18 which pass through predetermined holes on thecore or body portion of the horizontal bearing sections 2 correspondingto those on the metal blocks 16. The bolts 18 compress the hook-shapedportions or appendices 17 of the blocks against the corresponding hooks14 of the appendices or limbs 12 on the heads of the vertical bearingsections 1. In order to prevent inadvertent loosening and to facilitatethe tightening of the bolts 18, a roughened or serrated portion 19 isprovided on the bottom of the heads 11 of the vertical sections 1,corresponding to the toothed heads of the bolts 18, and plates 20 areinterposed between the core or body portion of the horizontal bearingsections 2 and the bolt nuts.

The horizontal bearing sections 2 are connected with the verticalbearing sections 1 through the metal blocks 16 so as to .be arrangedhorizontally and are spaced proportionally to the height dimensions ofthe covering panels 7 which the horizontal bearing sections 2 are tosupport. In this manner, the horizontal and vertical bearing sectionsdefine a rectangular grid or mesh grating. The horizontal bearingsections 2, as seenin FIG. 3, have a T-shaped wing 21 projectingoutwardly from the core or body portion of the horizontal bearingsections 2. The two wings 22, 23 of the T-shape serve to support and tokeep the covering panels 7 in position. Along the upper and lower sides,the covering panels 7 have grooves corresponding to the T-wings for theentrance thereof. The horizontal bearing sections 2 also have twoshoulder wings 24, 25 respectively, at the ends of their cross-sectionwhich serve as a ledge for two adjacent covering panels in order to keepthem in a perfect vertical orientation.

Corresponding to the door lintel 6 and to the base of the wall to becovered, horizontal bearing sections 3 of the type shown in FIG. 4 areconnected to the vertical bearing sections 1, again through the metalblocks 16, instead of using the type of horizontal bearing sections 2 asabove discussed. The sections 3 bear only a single series of coveringpanels 7 and have a single shoulder wing 26 corresponding to the upperportion of the covering panel cross-section. Instead of a T-shapedprojecting wing 21, the horizontal bearing sections 3 is provided with at-shaped projecting wing 27 having only a single t-wing 28 which serves,once introduced into the corresponding grooves which are provided alongthe lower sides of the covering panels 7, to bear and to keep the panelsin perfect position. Opposite to the projecting wing 27, L-shaped wings29 are provided on the horizontal bearing sections 3 which serve to fillthe spaces caused in connection with the frames. In the present case,for example, the wing 29 serves to close the space in front of thelintel of door 6. Finally, connecting sections 4 which extend verticallyfor the entire height of the doorposts 6 are hooked to certain verticalbearing sections which correspond to doorposts 6.

The connecting sections 4, as seen in FIG. 5, have a hook-shapedappendix or limb 30 and a tooth limb or appendix 31 which is hooked toone of the aforementioned hook-shaped appendices 15 and to one of theteeth 13 of the vertical bearing sections 1, respectively.

In this manner, the connecting sections 4 become unitary or solid withrespect to the structure of the vertical sections 1. The connectingsections4 are also provided with an appendix or limb 32 ending in a jawwherein a packing 33 is inserted. The packing 33 serves both as aconnection and as a resilient seal for the covering panels 7 whichdelimit the edge of the opening of door 6. Also on the connectingsections 4 it is anticipated that a cavity having a trapezoidal sectionwill be provided on the limb or appendix 30. A packing 34 is insertedinto the cavity and presses against the wing 35 of the frame 5 of door6. In addition, the wing 36 leans or abuts against the appendix or limb37 of the anchoring square plate 10 which serves thereby as a shoulder.As a result, the frame 5 of the door 6 is tightly clamped. In summary,the connecting sections 4 serve to close the spaces existing in thezones infront of the frame sides, in addition to serving as a connectionand a resilient seal of the covering panels which delimit the sides aswell as a stop for the frames themselves.

While I have shown and described only one embodiment in accordance withthe present invention, it is understood that the same is not limitedthereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications asknown to a person skilled in the art, and I, therefore, do not wish tobe limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to coverall such changes and modifications as encompassed by the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. An anchoring system for holding wall coverings, such as marbleplates, panels and the like, in place on building walls, the wallcoverings being formed as a plurality of relatively flat panels; saidanchoring system comprising: v

at least one relatively flat wall panel,

a series of substantially parallel vertical bearing sections extendingvertically along the wall to be covered, said vertical bearing sectionshaving rear, middle and front portions, the rear portion of each of saidvertical bearing sections being anchored to the wall;

a series of substantially parallel horizontal bearing sections extendinghorizontally along the wall to be covered, said horizontal bearingsections having rear and front portions, the rear portion of eachhorizontal bearing section being attached by attachment means to thefront portion of a plurality of vertical bearing sections such that arectangular grid is formed by the bearing sections, said horizontalbearing sections being spaced one from the other a distancecorresponding to the vertical height of the wall panels to be secured,the front portion of each of the horizontal bearing sections includingengaging means to engage the edges of the wall panels to hold them inplace; I

the attachment means for attaching the respective vertical andhorizontal bearing sections together comprising connecting block meansdisposed between the vertical and horizontal bearing sections, fastenermeans engaged through apertures in both the horizontal bearing sectionsand the connecting block means to fasten the connecting block means andthe horizontal bearing sections together, first abutment means disposedon said 4 vii connection block means, second abutment means disposed onthe respective forward portions of said vertical bearing sections, saidsecond abutment means being adapted to engage said first abutment meansand thereby fasten the connecting block means to the vertical bearingsection; and a connection section including sealing means for sealinglyconnecting wall panels to a door or like frame, said sealing meansincluding a first and second resilient seal, said connection sectionincluding an integral connecting piece having a substantially smoothflat outer surface portion for partially filling the space between thepanels and a door frame, said connecting piece further including threespaced projections extending inwardly in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to said outer surface, a first forward projection of saidconnecting piece including groove means for holding the first resilientseal in contact with respective wall panels, a second middle projectionof said connecting piece including abutment means for engaging in agroove on the front portion of a respective vertical bearing section,and a third rearward projection including abutment means for engaging agroove on the middle portion of the said respective vertical bearingsection, the second and third projections being operable to secure theconnecting piece to the respective vertical bearing secton, said secondresilient seal being positioned.

between said connecting piece and said door l frame.

2. An anchoring system according to claim 1, further characterized inthat said third projection includes groove means for holding the secondresilient seal in contact with the door frame.

3. An anchoring system according to claim 2, further comprising a doorframe having two inwardly substantially parallel projecting integralwing sections, a first forward wing section being in contact at itsforward edge with said second resilient seal and a second rearward wingsection being in contact at its rearward edge with a shoulder providedon an anchoring plate attached to the rear portion of said verticalbearing section, whereby the door frame is tightly clamped in positionbetween said resilient seal and said shoulder.

4. An anchoring system according to claim 1, characterized in that theabutment means of said second projection and the abutment means of saidthird projection form resilient jaws for gripping the respectiveabutments on the vertical bearing section therebetween.

5. An anchoring system according to claim 1, further characterized inthat said first abutment means are integral shoulder portions extendinglaterally from said connection block and said second abutment means areintegral projections extending inwardly from a generally U-shaped frontportion of said vertical bearing structure.

1. An anchoring system for holding wall coverings, such as marbleplates, panels and the like, in place on building walls, the wallcoverings being formed as a plurality of relatively flat panels; saidanchoring system comprising: at least one relatively flat wall panel, aseries of substantially parallel vertical bearing sections extendingvertically along the wall to be covered, said vertical bearing sectionshaving rear, middle and front portions, the rear portion of each of saidvertical bearing sections being anchored to the wall; a series ofsubstantially parallel horizontal bearing sections extendinghorizontally along the wall to be covered, said horizontal bearingsections having rear and front portions, the rear portion of eachhorizontal bearing section being attached by attachment means to thefront portion of a plurality of vertical bearing sections such that arectangular grid is formed by the bearing sections, said horizontalbearing sections being spaced one from the other a distancecorresponding to the vertical height of the wall panels to be secured,the front portion of each of the horizontal bearing sections includingengaging means to engage the edges of the wall panels to hold them inplace; the attachment means for attaching the respective vertical andhorizontal bearing sections together comprising connecting block meansdisposed between the vertical and horizontal bearing sections, fastenermeans engaged through apertures in both the horizontal bearing sectionsand the connecting block means to fasten the connecting block means andthe horizontal bearing sections together, first abutment means disposedon said connection block means, second abutment means disposed on therespective forward portions of said vertical bearing sections, saidsecond abutment means being adapted to engage said first abutment meansand thereby fasten the connecting block means to the vertical bearingsection; and a connection section including sealing means for sealinglyconnecting wall panels to a door or like frame, said sealing meansincluding a first and second resilient seal, said connection sectionincluding an integral connecting piece having a substantially smoothflat outer surface portion for partially filling the space between thepanels and a door frame, said connecting piece further including threespaced projections extending inwardly in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to said outer surface, a first forward projection of saidconnecting piece including groove means for holding the first resilientseal in contact with respective wall panels, a second middle projectionof said connecting piece including abutment means for engaging in agroove on the front portion of a respective vertical bearing section,and a third rearward projection including abutment means for engaging agroove on the middle portion of the said respective vertical bearingsection, the second and third projections being operable to secure theconnecting piece to the respective vertical bearing secton, said secondresilient seal being positioned between said connecting piece and saiddoor frame.
 2. An anchoring system according to claim 1, furthercharacterized in that said third projection includes groove means forholding the second resilient seal in contact with the door frame.
 3. Ananchoring system according to claim 2, further comprising A door framehaving two inwardly substantially parallel projecting integral wingsections, a first forward wing section being in contact at its forwardedge with said second resilient seal and a second rearward wing sectionbeing in contact at its rearward edge with a shoulder provided on ananchoring plate attached to the rear portion of said vertical bearingsection, whereby the door frame is tightly clamped in position betweensaid resilient seal and said shoulder.
 4. An anchoring system accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the abutment means of said secondprojection and the abutment means of said third projection formresilient jaws for gripping the respective abutments on the verticalbearing section therebetween.
 5. An anchoring system according to claim1, further characterized in that said first abutment means are integralshoulder portions extending laterally from said connection block andsaid second abutment means are integral projections extending inwardlyfrom a generally U-shaped front portion of said vertical bearingstructure.